ISLAMABAD, June 20: The Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, was appointed as principal secretary of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Division, said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Friday.

The post was vacant since May 18, 2003, when sitting Secretary Justice Mansoor Ahmad departed to take seat at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The judge, however, returned from ITCR within a week, but could not get back the post of law secretary.

He was repatriated to Lahore High Court on Wednesday.

Justice Abbasi is the first principal secretary of the Law, Justice and Human Right Division, as the post of the secretary was considered below the status of a judge of the Supreme Court.

He would assumed the charge of new assignment on Saturday.